Xenophon wants reforms in SA parliament

Nick Xenophon has called for sweeping changes to the South Australian parliament including fewer ministers, fewer MPs and more sitting days.

The departing federal senator will stand for a lower house seat at the SA election in March and wants the ministry cut from 14 to eight with the number of MPs across the two houses of parliament reduced from 69 to 51.

But his suggestions have been met with little support from the Labor and Liberal parties with Premier Jay Weatherill saying he hasn't seen the case for change.

"I think it's for Nick to make his case, to explain why he thinks this is a good idea and how it will work," Mr Weatherill told reporters on Monday.

"Nick needs to provide a lot more detail before the people of SA can evaluate if he has got anything to offer," he said.

But Greens MP Mark Parnell said he would give a big tick to a number of Senator Xenophon's suggestions including a move for more sitting days and cutting terms for upper house MPs from eight years to four years.